Inquiry, Not Science, as the Source of Secularization in Higher Education

Abstract The traditional claim in the literature on religion and science is that exposure to leads secularity because claims about natural world two systems are incompatible. More recently, research has narrowed this shown conflict over knowledge USA primarily limited one religion—conservative Protestantism—and only a few fact claims. In paper, I test using longitudinal data from matched surveys taken students’ first fourth year of university. find no evidence more secularizing than nonscience. then turn distinction university majors long used by sociologists education—between focused inquiry versus those applying knowledge—and likely secularize application. interpret mean learning inquire secularizes.